Mail-box.



No. 674,6l9.A l PatentedMay 2l, IQOL.; A. Ml. `SMITH. MAIL BOX.

(Application man. 29, 1901 y WLM Hiiorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED W. SMITH, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO EUGENE D. SCHEBLE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

MAIL-Box.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,619, dated May 21, 1901.

' Application led April 29, 1901. Serial No. 67,921. (No model.)

To z/ZZ whom. t 11i/ty concern: Y

Be it known that I, ALFRED W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxesgand I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains'v to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to mail-boxes; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is the construction of a letter-box of sheet metal of suitable gage having therein a certain arrangement of mechanism wherebysurreptitious access to the box is obviated, a leveling of mail-matter within the box is effected, and a large and Vfree throat or opening provided, through which the mail-matter may be introduced into the box, avoiding a choking thereof. A further arrangement also provides for locking the box against being opened when it has become filled to such an extent that it cannot properly receive additional matter. These objects are attained by the association of operative parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of a mail-box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the top of the box, showing the mechanism therein. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the top as on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view as on line 4 4 of Fig. l, showing in elevation the Aoperative parts in position for the introduction of mail into the box.

Referring to the characters of reference, l designates the body of the box,which is formed of sheet-steel of suitable gage. The top 2 of the box is curved in cross-section and is secured to the box proper by riveting or in any yother suitable manner.

The opening 3 for the introduction of mailmatter is formed in the top of the box and is closed by a lid 4, which is hinged at 5 and is adapted to be lifted up to disclose the opening 3. Secured to the inner face of the lid, near each end thereof, is a bracket 6, which normally depends within the box. Pivoted at 7 to the brackets 6V are the bars 8, whose inner ends extend within the box and are pivoted at 9 to the opposite ends of the tray 10, hinged at its upper edge to a transverse rod 1l, crossing the rear inner wall of the top of the box and supported at its ends in theends 12 of said top. Also journaled upon the pivots 9, at the ends of the tray 10, are the bars 13, whose opposite ends are pivoted at 14 to the sides 15 of the tray 16, said tray being in turn pivoted to oscillate upon the pintles 17, mounted upon the sides 15 of said tray and journaled in the ends of the top. By the arrangement of the trays as above described they are actuated upon the opening of the lid 4, through themedium of the connected bars 8 and 13, to cause their lower edges to swing together and form a trough-shaped receptacle adapted to receive the mail-matter introduced through the opening 3, exposed by the lifting of the lid 4, so that the mail-matter introduced into the box is held in said receptacle until the lid 4 is closed, when said trays will swing apart and deposit the mail-matter in the body of the box. The arrangement of the trays is such that when their lower edges swing apart the mail-matter resting thereon is discharged to either side of the box instead of directly in the center thereof, whereby as the box is filled the top of the con tents is maintained practically level, enabling a greater quantity of mail to be placed in the box before it becomes excessively filled.

Formed upon the upper edge of the tray 16 is a curved lip 1S, extending longitudinally of the tray and box and so shaped as to close the mail-opening 3 when the lid 4 of the box is down or closed, as shown in Fig. 2, so that access to the interior of the box could not be attained even though the lid 4 might be broken or partially removed. It will also be observed that when the lid 4is open to allow of the introduction of mail into the box the position of the trays is such as to practically extend across the top of the box above the mail-matter below, thereby preventing access thereto through the mail-opening 3. It will IOO be further- Otserved that when the lid 41s raised the opening 3 for the introduction of the mail is unobstructed and allows a free t an attempt be made to open the lid, whereby the trays would become locked and the lid would be prevented from being raised sufficiently to introduce any further matter into the box owing to the presence of the lip 18, which stands across the mail-opening 3, until the lid 4 has been fully opened.

Access to the box for the removal of mail is had through the door 19, adapted to be closed by a hasp 20, which may be securedby any suitable look.

This improved box being made of sheetsteel is light and strong and very durable, obviating the possibility of becoming broken by a blow from some heavy instrument, as is the case with cast-iron boxes. l

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A mailbox, having an opening for the introduction of mail, a movable lid to close said opening, movable trays within the box, means connecting said trays together, and means connecting one tray with said lid whereby they are caused to move across the upper end of the box as saidl lid is opened so as to'form a partition between said opening and the body of the box and a receptacle for the' inail-matter introduced.

2. A mail-box, having an opening therein through which mail may be introduced, a movable lid to close said opening, a tray pivoted before said opening within the box and a second tray pivoted within the box at the rear so as to receive the mail-matter introduced through said opening, said front tray having a lip adapted to stand across said opening when said lid is closed and means connecting said lid with said front tray, through said rear tray.

3. A mail-box, having'an opening therein for the introduction of mail, a movable lid to close said opening, movable trays within the box adapted to swing together at their lower edges to form a receptacle, means connecting said trays together, and means connecting the rear tray to said movable lid whereby their lower edges are brought together as said lid is opened and they are swung apart as the lid is closed to discharge the mail-matter into the box. f

4. A mail-box, having an opening therein for the introduction of mail, a hinged lid to close said opening, trays pivoted at the opposite sides of the box and adapted to swing together at the lower edges, a connecting-rod extending between and pivoted to said trays and a rod pivoted to one of said trays and to said lid whereby said trays are brought together and swung apart as the lid is opened and closed.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

n ALFRED W. SMITH.

Witnesses:

E. S. WHEELER, ENooH EDMoNsTN, J r. 

